Anyone know about these bastards? My laptop uses a 40pin lvds cable to connect the screen to the motherboard, and predictably (as it runs through a hinge) it's fucked - started to fail almost a year ago and it's finally given up the ghost.

Can't find a spare for that model online and Pc Specialist are being less than helpful so far. Are there any common standards for these buggers? Suspect it's all proprietary shite :(

Looks like it's all proprietary shite:

http://nicab.co.uk/lvds-cables-a-simple-guide/

What graphitone said.

I think the tech is the same but all the connectors are different.

Worth cutting your connectors and attempting soldering with a fresh cable in the middle? If you know the pinout that is.

If the connectors are different, there's probably proprietary differences in the pin outs too, even if they have the same number of pins.

These guys look like they do custom cables - though whether it's worth the cost of getting a 'merkin company to sort for you is something you'll have to weigh up. They do offer some free advice though.

The cables are so fine that although I probably *could* solder them, I'd never be able to do it neat enough to fit back inside the chassis :( :( :(

Another 3 hours on the phone to tech support then... hopefully get further this time.

Once when I tried to sort this I got as far as the person at PC Specialist agreeing they'd give me a new cable, but I had to confirm that I was happy to replace it myself. I did this (by email) and heard nothing back. Couple months later I emailed again saying... so are you sending the cable? Got a reply from a differen't guy saying "call us on this number and we'll talk you through reseating the cable :D "

(fail)

That's what I thought. :( :( :(

Found one cable for sale on ebay - it's listed on ebay.fr and ebay.it, says "no international buyers" and item location is listed as Connecticut or something :? :? :? . Emailed the seller but not holding out much hope.

(fail)

I wonder if you could get it delivered to a post office/Argos in France? Mitigate the travel costs against how much it'd cost to get to Connecticut and it seems like a bargain.

Found one!

A dodgy looking site in Birmingham, but I've ordered one (through paypal, obviously) and we'll see if it turns up.

http://clevoweb.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4275

"What kind of laptop have you got?"

"Oh, this old thing? It's a Clevo Schenker."

*backs away slowly, wincing*

(bounce)

We ordered 5 Office licenses from a dodgy looking place in Hong Kong/China-ish called Mr. High Tech. Two of them worked. Microsoft rejected the others saying we may be victims of software piracy. :C

Hah.

Well I've got inlaws in the west midlands area, so I'll have them pop round if there's any issues :C

Hmm. Factory Direct and you are asked to sign away your distance selling rights. So almost certainly a small outlet in China.

This is such crap. Samsung NC10s were a pain a few years back with their white screen issue and even with hundreds (maybe thousands) of complaints it was a real drag trying to get hold of cables. I had one replaced under warranty, then replaced it again myself after another year and had to replace one in my partner's machine as well. Doing the replacement myself I spent ages trawling around trying to find a replacement that a) matched the model exactly and b) wasn't a bargain at £150.

Yup. Load of shite.

PC Specialist have the parts,  but won't sell them to me because I don't have a PC Specialist order number for my laptop (was bought by my insurance company, via an agent, via ebuyer, so there /is/ no PC Specialist order number).

Hoping this one turns up, but i've had no further communication from the 'shop' beyond an 'order confirmed' email. 

Paid with paypal so if it comes to it I can initiate a dispute there. Hopefully.

It's bad enough having to thread the bastard things through the hinge and then reassemble it without the agony of getting hold of one.

Aye, it was a bit of a cunt getting the old one out. Had to unscrew one corner of the mother board (just needed about 0.5mm more wriggle room), which meant unplugging the top panel (keyboard, track pad, power siwtch) which was 3 or 4 far too fucking short ribbon cables. Easy enough to get off, but an utter bastard to get back on.

If you ever run into that sort of thing again let me know.  I'd be happy to reship something out to you.

May still be running into this sort of thing, still no comms from the 'shop'...

OK let me know if I can help!

I missed a signed for delivery today 8-O

Uh oh!